Sunday's announcement of the firing of Winnipeg Jets head coach Claude Noel and assistant Perry Pearn divided fans. Some thought a team in the midst of a five-game losing strike has more than just coaching problems.

"It's the way the team is built, they never really changed it up since they were the Thrashers," said Alen Lvovsky, a longtime fan who doesn't think it was a smart move. "He was a great coach and deserves to stay and work with a new team."

Instead, Lvovsky pointed to the players he feels are overpaid and the Jets could stand to lose.

"There are a bunch of guys who are making too much money," he said, using defenceman Dustin Byfuglien as a prime example.

"He is a very expensive player and he is under-performing," he said.

Noel will be replaced by former Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice. Some believe coming in mid-season to the last team in the Central Division will leave him fighting a losing battle.

"In the short term, it is a good thing. (Maurice) has proven himself in the league," said Van Steelant, who thinks Noel should have been sacked earlier. "He is going to have a tough time. It's like bring a knife to a gun fight."

He also believes a player shuffle is needed to rejuvenate the team.

"Next season, we have to put some guys on the next train out of here. It's part of sports."

Eleven-year-old Jacob Waterman thinks it was a good call by the Jets, because Noel just wasn't into the game.

"He just didn't care and he didn't have emotion," said the young fan who wasn't even alive when the original Jets existed. "He doesn't look happy when we win or when we lose."

His hope for next season is to see better coaching and the team in the playoffs.

Many agree the honeymoon may be over for the team that returned to the city three years ago.

"We did pick up a team that was losing, it's not like we bought the Chicago Blackhawks, but they are losing more than they should be," said Jeremy Robertson, who says he is waiting for the team's fifth year before making any judgments on its vitality.

Season ticket holder Cleon Rowel agrees with Robertson, saying the team still has a lot of building to do.

By firing Noel mid-season, Rowel said it can prepare for next season.

"The writing's on the wall for this season and I don't bet on us making it to the playoffs," he said. "We can make changes now and get ready for next season."

Fans split on nixing Noel

Sunday's announcement of the firing of Winnipeg Jets head coach Claude Noel and assistant Perry Pearn divided fans. Some thought a team in the midst of a five-game losing strike has more than just coaching problems.

"It's the way the team is built, they never really changed it up since they were the Thrashers," said Alen Lvovsky, a longtime fan who doesn't think it was a smart move. "He was a great coach and deserves to stay and work with a new team."

Instead, Lvovsky pointed to the players he feels are overpaid and the Jets could stand to lose.